Report: Rangers’ Young might not be going anywhere

The Mariners might see Texas Rangers third baseman Michael Young this year exactly as many times as they saw him last year.

Michael Young

Jon Heyman of SI.com, citing sources close to the situation, reported there’s a good chance Young will still be with the Rangers when spring training opens.

Several teams have shown interest in Young, but moving a player with three years and $48 million left on his contract is never easy.

One official with a team that is interested in Young told Heyman, “I still don’t think they will trade him.”

According to Heyman, the Rangers are determined not to weaken their team through any trade. With few decent offensive options on the trade or free-agent markets, that could mean keeping the disgruntled six-time All-star.

Young has a limited no-trade clause in his contract that allows him to be traded to eight major league teams. The Colorado Rockies are on that list, but they were unable to reach a deal with the Rangers.

The Los Angeles Angels are also on the list and reportedly interested in Young, but talks have not progressed much beyond that.

The other teams on the list are the Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres.

Young has said he is willing to hear offers from teams not on the list on a “case-by-case basis.”

In any trade scenario, the Rangers likely will have to eat about $20 million of Young’s salary.

If Young does remain with the Rangers for 2011, it could be ugly. He has said he feels “misled and manipulated” by Rangers management, and he has changed positions three times since 2004 despite being the de facto captain and face of the franchise.

The acquisitions of Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli during the offseason have left Young without a clear role on the team.

If he comes to Safeco Field in a Rangers uniform this season, don’t expect him to be smiling.